Morrison scratched; Eovaldi set for Tuesday return

Less than a week after activating him from the disabled list, the Marlins scratched Logan Morrison from Friday's lineup because of back tightness.

June 14, 2013|By Juan C. Rodriguez, Sun Sentinel

MIAMI — — The Marlins can't seem to get good news on the injury front without something else cropping up.

Manager Mike Redmond, before Friday's game, announced that starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi would make his 2013 debut Tuesday in Arizona. Before he could express any excitement over getting Eovaldi back, Redmond had to reveal that Logan Morrison was a lineup scratch because of back tightness.

Morrison, after the Marlins activated him from the disabled list Sunday, played three games, got back-to-back off days, and still couldn't play Friday.

"[Friday] was the first I've heard of it," Redmond said. "He tried to take a few swings, and it was tight."

Asked whether he anticipated Morrison's being available Saturday, a visibly frustrated Redmond said: "I don't know. I have no idea. … Usually back things are more than just a day. He might be out for a couple of days, but hopefully not."

Eovaldi was in the Marlins' clubhouse Friday after making his final rehab start with Double-A Jacksonville on Thursday. He earned a win after giving up two runs on five hits with no walks and five strikeouts over six innings against Montgomery.

Biceps tendinitis landed Eovaldi on the disabled list just before the season started.

"We were definitely taking it slow, making sure everything felt good," Eovaldi said. "After each bullpen, each game, I haven't had any soreness or any type of fatigue, anything like that. … Everything's been feeling great.

"I definitely felt the best [Thursday] night with all my pitches and my command. I feel like everything is coming back together. … How it came up at the very end of spring training, you work so hard in the offseason and you want to break with the team, and then I happen to have biceps tendinitis come out of nowhere. It wasn't even really any pain. It was just tightness."

Future rotation

Redmond was vague about how Eovaldi's return would impact the rotation. Tuesday would be Kevin Slowey's day to pitch, but Redmond fell short of saying Slowey would be relegated to full-time relief duty.

"The plan is for [Eovaldi] to start Tuesday in Arizona, and we'll mix and match with the rotation and try to figure out what we're going to do," Redmond said.

The Marlins don't have another off day until June 24, so they're somewhat limited in how they can tinker. Tom Koehler has one more chance to solidify his rotation spot Saturday. It's conceivable Slowey could return to the rotation for Koehler's next start, June 20 in San Francisco.

Alvarez on track

Henderson Alvarez, the Marlins' other starting pitcher who went on the disabled list just before the season opener, made his first rehab outing for Class-A Jupiter on Thursday. He allowed four runs with no walks and a strikeout over five scoreless innings at Brevard County…

Placido Polanco (back) was feeling better Friday and resumed baseball activity. Redmond likely will give him another day off or two "to get his feet under him."